Military Voting

Receiving Your Ballot

You may receive your ballot by mail, by email, or by fax. If you wish to receive it by email or fax, notify your county auditor on your request and provide a valid email address or fax number.

Other Available Absentee Voting Alternatives

Returning Your Ballot by Email or Fax

As a military voter, you may be eligible to return your voted ballot by email or fax if you are an active member of the army, navy, marine corps, merchant marine, coast guard, air force, or Iowa National Guard and are outside the U.S. or any of its territories.

Return Deadline

Your ballot must be received in the county auditor's office before the polls close at 8 p.m. (CT) on election day.

Returning Your Ballot by Mail

If you are located inside the United States, you must return your voted absentee ballot by mail even if you received your ballot by email or fax.

If you use the return envelope provided and either the U.S. Postal Service or the FPO/APO mail system, postage is free. Otherwise, you must pay the postage.

Return Deadline

The ballot must be postmarked by the Monday before election day or earlier and received in the county auditor's office no later than noon on the Monday following election day.

Postmarks are not guaranteed, so mail your absentee ballot early enough that it arrives before election day.

For school and some city and special elections, the return deadline may be earlier. Read the instructions sent with the ballot to determine the return deadline for the election.